12 appeal ward change

The Local Government Commission will make a final decision on the future of Dunedin's voting system, after a plan to dump inner-city wards attracted 12 appeals.

The Dunedin City Council voted last month to get rid of its four city wards in favour of a central ward with 11 councillors, a Mosgiel-Taieri ward with two councillors and a Waikouaiti-Chalmers ward with one councillor.

The change would mean most Dunedin voters would no longer be restricted to voting for three or four councillors in their ward and having no say on the rest.

East Taieri man Brian Miller announced immediately after the decision he planned to appeal, arguing rural voters would be disenfranchised by only being able to vote for one or two councillors.

Eleven more appeals had been sent to the council when the appeal period closed at the end of last week.

Council electoral officer Pam Jordan said the appeals contained a mix of arguments, from those who wanted one ward for the entire city, to those who wanted to keep the status quo, and others who wanted changes to community boards.

Ms Jordan expected a hearing in November or December, if the commission found time before Christmas.

The commission must make a ruling by April 10.

Those appealing are: J. A. Enright; Linda Hamill; Ian Church; Leonie Rousselot; Cyril Childs and Christine Thomson; Brian Miller; Rod and Pam Mason; John Neilson; Doug Jackson; Geraldine Tait; Howard Adams; Shaun Scott.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz

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